Volunteer of the Month
Archives

November 2019
Linda Sowell

Photo of Linda Sowell

This month we’d like to shine the light on a new, yet not new volunteer. If you read last month’s newsletter, specifically the Activity Spotlite, you would have read a bit about Linda Sowell. Well this month we’d like to shine an even larger spotlight on her as our Volunteer of the Month. Linda is the new Gadabouts Trip Coordinator. She had been working in the Thrift Store and was asked to be a relief in the Trip office. When a vacancy occurred she was asked to take over, which she was more than happy to do. Since then she has been busy scheduling new trips, chaperoning trips on occasion, and generally managing our hustling and bustling trip office. Linda also serves on our Board of Directors. If needed she also helps out at our special events. Originally from Chicago, IL, she moved out to California with her husband who was in the Navy. Once out here she was not content to stay at home raising her two kids (who themselves provided her with five grandkids), but worked in numerous types of jobs. Her main career was in Food Service. She started out at McDonalds as a cashier, and worked her way up to manager. Then she transferred to the school system where she became the Director of Children’s Nutrition for the Bear Valley School District before retiring. Thanks Linda for helping to take our members on trips of a lifetime.

Featured Class

Sketching
Date: October 2, 2019
Time: 8:30 - 10:00 am
Length: 8 weeks
Cost: $8 members
      $8 non-members
Instructor: Robert Placencia
Location: Game Room
Description: Are you a doodler? Or maybe you're a bit sketchy. For our Sketching Class you're perfect. The class is taught by Robert Placencia. He took classes in college, and used to assist in his oil painting class. Although his media is more in oil paintings, sketching is a big part of that so it's a perfect fit. He has been teaching the class for nearly 3+ years now. Robert has been involved in art for over 40 years, having taken art classes in high school and college. He enjoys many mediums including sketching, charcoal, and oil painting. He has even received awards for some of his works. The class will begin with portraits, as it provides the basic foundation that can later be applied to still life and scenery. Students need to bring their own pencils (4H to 6B preferred), a sharpener, as well as a sketch pad. Do not bring writing paper. The size of the sketchpad will depend upon a students personal preference although Robert prefers the large size. The Sketching class will be on Wednesdays, in the Gameroom, and will run for 8 weeks. Cost is $8.

Featured Activity

Zumba Gold
Time: Fridays 11:15 a.m.
Cost: $2.00 per class members
      $2.00 per class non-members
Location: Exercise Room
Description: We’d like to welcome back a new exercise class to the center, Zumba Gold. Zumba is a mix of low-intensity and high-intensity set to interval-style, calorie-burning Latin and World dance moves. For those who see the words "high-intensity." Fear not. The class, like all of our exercise classes, is designed with seniors in mind. This class will be tailored towards active older adults who are looking for a modified Zumba class that recreates the original moves at a lower-intensity. The instructor is Carole Fiedler, a certified Zumba instructor, who says the class will consist of toning and stretching before moving on to the dance moves. She has been taking Zumba for six years, has been a licensed Zumba instructor for over five years, and certified for Zumba Gold for one year. Class started in October, every Friday starting at 11:15am, but you are more than welcome to jump in at any time. Classes are only $2, and be sure to bring some water, a towel, and wear comfortable clothing and good shoes.
Golf Tournament just around the corner
By: Mike Sylva
As the east coast grapples with several feet of snow, here on the west coast, and in particular, the Highland Senior Center, we prepare to golf. Our 25th Annual Golf Tournament will be held next month, on Thursday, April 16th. East Coast - Shoveling snow. West Coat - tapping in a birdie.

Applications are already and player divisions are filling up fast, but there are still some slots available—so sign up soon. There is the Regular Division, the Senior Division, and the Law Enforcement Division. The tournament will again be held at the San Bernardino Public Golf Course and promises to be filled with blue skies and lots of prizes, so mark your calendar.